Ask The Soapmaker – Animal Fat

Q. How are fragrances and tallow in soap associated?

A. Unlike Shugar soaps, most name-brand soaps in the United States use a base that is made from about 80% to 90% beef tallow, essentially fat from slaughtered cows. As a result, the base has a very strong and unpleasant odor. In fact, if you close your eyes and breathe deeply while holding one of these soaps to your nose, the acrid fatty scent will come through. To mask this odor, major manufacturers add high levels – 3% or more – of chemical fragrances. These fragrances can be very strong or overpowering and have been known to irritate skin.

At Shugar, we never use animal fats. All our soaps are made with sustainably grown, RSPO-certified palm oil, a neutral fat that has no distinguishable smell. Using palm oil lets us craft delightfully scented soaps with primarily natural fragrances used in much lower concentrations, typically 0.5% to 1%.